I'll begin by explaining that there are two tribes of gods. These are the Aesir and the Vanir. The Aesir are the decedents of the god Buri, the god spawned from the ice when fire and ice clashed in Ginnungagap (empty void.) Buri and his kin lived alongside the early races of giants. Buri had a son called Borr, and Borr had three sons.

These sons were Odin, Vili, and Ve. They went on to start a war with the giants that ended with the creation of the realms of Jotunheim, Midgard, Asgard, and Svartalfheim. Muspellheim, Niflheim, Vanaheim, Helheim, and Ljossalfheim seem to be in existence before the coming of the Aesir.

The Vanir consist of Freyr, Freyja, Njord, and a few others consist of the Vanir tribe. These gods are more like fertility, love, and overall primal/nature gods, while the Aesir concern themselves with things like war, poetry, politics, the arts, etc.

The Vanir are more of nature and the harvest. They are not much different than the Aesir other than that regard. In fact, they had a great war but exchanged hostages and now they've interbred and coexist to the point that they are hard to tell apart sometimes.

The Gods:

Odin - Odin is the Allfather. He, along with his brothers, carved Ymir (primal giant) into the worlds of Yggdrasil. They created our world of Midgard. He is the chief of the Aesir and rules from his throne where he can see all things. He also hails from his hall, Valhalla, where he oversees the training of his warriors. These warriors, the Einherjar, are plucked from the battlefield by the Valkyries. In Valhalla they feast and train until Ragnarok. Odin shall fall on the battlefield on Ragnarok at the hands of Fenrir.

Odin possesses several magical items that strengthen him. He has a ring that duplicates itself as a source of wealth; he has the spear Gungir, as well as an assortment of other magical gear. He also has several important animals. He owns the horse Sleipnir who is the swiftest beast in all the nine worlds. He also has Huginn and Muninn, ravens that sit upon his shoulder and personify memory and thought.

Odin made the first man and woman with the help of Hoenir and Lodur. Odin also spent nine nights suspended and wounded, without food or drink on the side of the great world tree. While there, he rediscovered the runes for humanity. Odin also sacrificed an eye for a drink at the well of Mimir. Here he gained great wisdom. He is the patron of rune workers. Odin is associated with rune craft, galdr, and shamanism.

Offerings - Odin likes expensive whiskey or the best mead you have to offer. He also likes poetry and acts of valor. He is the warrior god and chief of battle. He appreciates acts of bravery done in his name.

Thor - Thor is the god of thunder, strength, common sense, the harvest, etc. He governs many things and was adored by humanity, especially during the Viking Age. I have written a previous post all about him, so I will not go into great detail. The link to said post will be floating around near the bottom. Thor is the manly man of the gods. He is tough and brave, as he is the defender of Asgard and is physically stronger than the other gods (perhaps except for his own son).

Thor is the son of Odin and Jord (some say Frigg, though that is debated) and he is blessed with immense strength. He is married to Sif and has four children. He lives in his palace Bilskirnir. He is carried throughout the nine worlds on his chariot which is pulled by goats.

Thor is the protector of Asgard and Midgard and he does this with the help of his legendary hammer, Mjolnir. On Ragnarok Thor will take nine steps from the body of Jormungandr and he will fall dead from the poison after killing Jormungandr.

Offerings - Great offerings for Thor are mead and beer. He really likes booze. He also likes red meat and acts of bravery dedicated to his name.

Freyr - Freyr went to live with the Aesir after the Vanic-Aesir War. Freyr is a sword wielding fertility god. He oversees the harvest and crops of men. He is also a god of desire and passion. He is the brother of Freyja.

He owns a golden boar which he uses for transportation and also owns a magical ship that can fold up and be placed in his pocket.

He will fight Surtr on Ragnarok armed with only the antler of a stag. He will be slain but he will put out one of Surtr's eyes.

Offerings - A good offering for Freyr is a love poem or horn of red wine. He also enjoys wheat and grains from the harvest.

Baldr - Baldr is the immortal god of light. When he was born, he was adored by all things in the nine worlds. He was the prize child of Odin and Frigg. However, Baldr began to have night terrors about his own demise and Odin went to Helheim to speak with a Volva in order to find out what will happen to his son.

Baldr is foretold to be slain, so a plan is set into motion. Frigg has all living creatures swear an oath to never harm Baldr, that way, he would never die. Although this seems successful, there is one plant that does not agree; a sprig of mistletoe. Loki ultimately tricks the god Hodr into throwing a mistletoe dart at Baldr, who then dies. Odin conceives a child specifically to deal punishment to Hodr and Hodr dies as well.

The Aesir try to get Baldr back from the dead, but Hela will only allow this is everything in the nine worlds agrees to weep for him. All do except an old giantess who was Loki in disguise. So Baldr is lost to Helheim until after Ragnarok.

Offerings - Images of the sun and sweet mead are good offerings for Baldr. He also enjoys music and fresh marigolds are a good thing to offer.

Bragi - Bragi was born when Odin and a giantess met together and shared the mead of poetry in a cave. When Bragi was born he was given a golden harp from dwarves as a gift. His music was so beautiful that it brightened all of the nine worlds. Odin has also inscribed special runes on Bragi's tongue.

In his travels he met the goddess Idunn, the lady of spring and keeper of the golden apples. He married her and they keep each other happy, youth and poetry.

A common custom was to swear oaths over cups of wine that were dedicated to Bragi. Some of the greatest skalds in history take Bragi's name.

Offerings - Poems and songs recited for Bragi are greatly appreciated. He also likes apples. Apple ale or hard cider is great to offer, too.

Sample blot: http://www.modernheathen.com/?p=129

Loki - Loki is the god of chaos and change. He is actually a giant who lives among the gods. He was bound to a rock with the entrails of his son for his involvement in Baldr's death.

Loki is also the center of controversy in the heathen community. However, regardless of your views, you cannot deny the importance of Loki and the change he brings about.

Loki is said to lead an army against the Aesir on Ragnarok in vengeance due to them binding him and his family.

Tyr - Tyr is the god of war. The very art and science of warfare is Tyr's. He is not the god of battle like Odin, or of strength like Thor; he is more like a general.

Tyr is a one-handed warrior god, due to the fact that Fenrir bit it off when Tyr and the other gods tricked Fenrir into putting a muzzle and binding on.

Tyr is said to be a son of Odin but also the son of Hymir, a giant. Tyr is the warrior and soldier's god.

On Ragnarok he will kill Garm and then be killed.

Offerings - Red meat, especially beef roast and steak. Knives and arrow heads are good too. He also enjoys acts of courage done in his name.

Sample blot: http://www.modernheathen.com/?p=41

Heimdall - Heimdall is said to be the son of 9 waves, but also that of Odin. Perhaps he is the adopted son of Odin. Either that or his father was Odin while Odin was wandering around in disguise.

Heimdall is famous for his acute sense of sight and hearing. This is why he guards the Bifrost Bridge. He is not too fond of Loki and will die at the hands of Loki and manage to kill Loki as well.

He is also known for his horn, Gjallarhorn, and his sword.

Offerings - Mead of course. He also enjoys rainbow patterned offerings. Earthy or brightly colored stones are good too. It's also a good idea to dedicate war horns to Heimdall.

Sample blot: Sorry! I couldn't find one. Use the other links to string something together, and create your own blot.

The Goddesses

Frigg - Frigg is a motherly goddess, the wife of Odin, and can be considered the queen figure of Asgard. As a motherly Goddess, she is called upon during child birth and other things that involve the care and raising of children.

Frigg is a compassionate Goddess and she can relate to the woes of the mother (she did lose her dear son, Baldr, after all). She has the ability to see into the future and sits alone to weave the clouds together.

Even though Frigg has the gift of foresight, she does not tell anyone what she sees.

Offerings - Fine silks, white wine, and dark chocolate are some good offerings.

Idunn - Idunn is the wife of Bragi and she is the physical embodiment of Spring. She is the keeper of the golden apples that keep the gods young for eternity.

She was once tricked and her apples were stolen, this conflict led to Skadi joining the ranks of the Aesir.

Idunn is a beautiful maiden and is associated with eternal youth as such she is also often associated with healing and restoring the vitality to the soul and body.

Offerings - Poetry and song are great. She also enjoys fresh apples and apple juice. Wild flowers are good too.

Sample blot: N/A

Sif - Sif is the golden haired beautiful wife of Thor. She represents the crops and golden wheat in fields. She is a fertility and harvest goddess.

She was famous among the gods for her blonde hair until Loki sheared it off. Loki then, by threat of death, was forced to fix his wrong doings. She managed to get her some magical golden hair from the dwarves. This hair was even more beautiful.

She is also a patron of wives and mothers everywhere. She is a good example of being both loving and independent.

Skadi - Skadi is a winter huntress goddess. She was married to a sea god by arrangement, but the relationship was short lived. She is known for being fierce, cold, and determined.

She is a hardened womanly figure. She is independent and grieves the loss of her father. She is also vengeful against Loki and specifically added a touch of torture to his already gruesome punishment. She fashioned a poison dripping snake above his eyes.

She is a goddess of hunting and winter.

Offerings - Whiskey on the rocks is great. She also likes flint or steel arrow heads and knives.

Example blot: http://www.modernheathen.com/?p=142

Other Wights

Landvaettir - These spirits are the wights that are of and attached to the land. They are the life of the stones, forests, rivers, grove, canyons, etc. of the earth. They are honored by small shrines in which they are offered gifts. Good gifts are shiny things like coins, shell, and crystals.

Alfar and Dwarves - These are beings from Ljossalfheim and Svartalfheim. There are grey lines between dwarves and Svartalfar, but many agree that Dwarves are their own beings and Svartalfar are ''black elves'' and are a different being. It can be a bit confusing at times. Both are generally intense and don't ask much. They like broken glass and sharp things. They also enjoy blood and mead mixed together and poured over their offerings. The Ljossalfar, however, are more light hearted and enjoy songs, shiny offerings, and spirit houses to dwell in.

Trolls - Trolls are harmful wights in general. They can either be Giant in origin or just some ill wishing Wight that simply means to harm.

Giants - Giants are a large and broad race of beings that contain many different traits and personalities. These include but are not limited to, frost giants, fire giants, and storm giants.

Disir - Disir are the ancestral spirits of the female figures in your life and family history. They are protecting and fierce. They are honored on Disablot.

Valkyries - These are winged warrior maidens that collect the honored dead from the battlefield.

I hope you all have gained an understanding of the gods and how to honor them from this post. I know that it was lengthy and thank you for not skimming over or giving up. If you have further questions post below and feel free to message me as well.

This is what Loki teaches us, and willingly accepted his fate, only to die during Ragnarok.

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Personal Bolt :
I have a few charities, which I donate to, on a regular basis.
As for April 1st, my wishful goal is prayer and offerings, for 24 hours. I usually don't reach my goal, due to sudden events, and my family deciding to call me on everything ...

I just now saw your comment, Lokihourn, and I have to ask you about it now.

"The Gods/Goddesses were foolish, and selfish."

Why do you feel this way? I don't think many of us hold the belief that the Gods/Goddesses were foolish or selfish. I personally would never insult any of them by saying that. I think they all are deserving of some respect. Even Loki respected them, though he was more open about expressing where his doubts were.

"Everything is born, everything has a life cycle, and everything dies. This is what Loki teaches us, and willingly accepted his fate, only to die during Ragnarok."

Hmm.. Usually when I think of the cycle of death and rebirth I tend to see that as what Hel teaches us. In the Rokkatru ethics and values it says that Hel tends to teach about mortality, while Nidhogg teaches about the cycle of life, death and decay. I see Loki as a teacher of self-knowledge and of truth. His stories usually serve the purpose of showing him giving truths, whether others like it or not.

Not all pagans worship, work with or honor the Norse deities and thus not all pagans know about them. Clever did a really good job of summarizing the main ones and giving examples of how to work with them for those who don't know. :)